My Curly Blondes ;-)

Just found this picture of Chris.  MY DARK HAIRED HUSBAND CHRIS!!!  Definitely know where Sadie gets her blonde curls from!

Book-a-palooza

 So, have I mentioned Ella is OBSESSED with reading?  It happened this summer and has continued...if it weren't such a wonderful habit I'd be concerned!  We went to an amazing cheap book event at a Scholastic Books wharehouse nearby and Ella got to buy about 100 books for $10.  She found a couple series' there (Geronimo Stilton and Rainbow Magic) and she has started getting from the library and she's obsessed!  She'll read a whole chapter book in 45 minutes which means she'll read all 20 books we got from the library in a couple days.  It's slowed down a little since school started but she still asks to go to the library all the time-it's her new favorite activity.  

Chris and I had the goal of raising a reader (I was totally like her when I was young and Chris is like that now!) and so far, so good!

 One day she made me leave the room and then organized her Fairy books into categories with labels.  She's hilarious.

S'Mores

First Day of First Grade!

 I'm a little behind but a couple weeks ago, Ella had her first day of first grade at her new school!  She wasn't nervous at all and has had a seamless adjustment.  I really admire her ability to go into new environments, knowing no one, and having no anxiety about it at all!  She was so excited the night before her first day she couldn't stop smiling in her bed.  She said "Mom, I barely know anything about my new school but I know it's gonna be so great!" 

So far she's enjoying her teacher (a sweet, tiny little lady who has been teaching 1st grade there for 23 years) and her smaller class and school size seems to be conducive to getting to know everyone quickly.  There are 17 kids in her class (versus 24 last year) and only 6 girls! She's enjoying her "specials," especially Art.  We're looking forward to getting to know all the kids and parents in her class as some of these kids may be the people she goes to school with all through elementary, middle, and high school! 
We're also getting used to being "walkers."  It's about a 5-7 minute walk door-to-door.  I'm curious what it will be like when it's freezing cold but we always have the option to drive :-) We're also really thankful for such a diverse school-racially, ethnically, socio-economically.  I hope this will be a great foundation for Ella in her ability to accept and understand and value people who are different from her. The school also seems to have great academics and a principal who seems energetic, enthusiastic, and very competent. And he raps (see pic below).  What more could we ask for? ;-)

 

 

Principal Morris leading the kids in a call and response rap song on the first morning of school. LOVE it.

Apple Picking!

 We got to go pick Apples and my favorite local Pick-Your-Own Farm yesterday with my friend Annie (we've been friends since our freshman year of college...15 years!) and her 3 kids.  I LOVE fall so I'm all about as many fun fall activities as possible and this was a great way to start! 

 Sadie wanted to carry the bag all by herself ;-)

 LOVE this pic! She's finally learning to smile for the camera a little bit!

 Sadie is kind of obsessed with babies.  And really good with them!

 There was a field of sunflowers on the way out and I had to pull over and hop out and take a few pics-too beautiful to not capture!

So glad Annie snapped one pic of Sadie and me on her cell phone! 

Ocean City 2012!!